Private islands aren't just for millionaires, recluses and reality TV show contestants. Many islands are surprisingly affordable for the rest of us. From tropical hideaways to rustic retreats, you can find habitable and convenient islands for sale for as little as $150,000 -- and full-blown resort-style havens for well into the millions of dollars.

We won't sugarcoat the biggest hitch in island ownership: It costs roughly twice as much to build on an island as it does on nearby waterfront land. Yet advances in technology and home construction (see Fabulous Prefabs, for example) are making it affordable to turn an island into a getaway retreat.

So cast away your preconceptions, and learn about the ins and outs of buying an island in the August issue of Kiplinger's Personal Finance. And click through this photo gallery of ten terrific islands from Maine to Spain that were available for purchase in mid-June.

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Rest of the list for "Top 10 Private Islands" can be found here:

www.kiplinger.com